A Morris man is doing his part to help veterans with hearing problems be better understood.

David Wright, who lost part of his hearing due to military injuries, knows how it feels to experience embarrassment and frustration as a result of having hearing impairment. He said others feel the same way.

Wright, a member of VFW Kelly Ingram Post 668 in Birmingham, had a simple idea: provide wrist bands to individuals so they can quickly and inconspicuously show to others that they are having a hard time hearing what is being said.

The VFW post has ordered sand-colored plastic wrist bands that state, “Hearing Impaired,” on them. Wright said VFW Post 668 Commander Henry Brown Jr. is fully supporting the program and approved spending the funds for it.

“The main purpose is for people to identify hearing impaired people in public,” Wright said. “We need to let people know we are hearing impaired, and they need to treat us respectfully. They need to help us at the level we need help.”

Wright said that going into public places can be a nightmare for people with hearing impairments.

“If you go into a noisy place, sometimes it’s actually better to turn your hearing aids off so you can just hear the sounds closest to you. Sometimes hearing aids frustrate a person because they transmit everything,” he said.

Wright said some hearing impaired people do not hear all frequencies, so they often catch only part of what is being said.

He added that he has lost friends because “people will drift away from you” if they are continually having to repeat themselves.

Wright has a few words of advice to people who are communicating with a person who is hearing impaired.

“Look straight at us. Speak directly to us and let us read your lips,” he said. He added that it also helps to stay on topic, and for heaven’s sake, “no baby talk.”

In addition to the wrist bands, the VFW post is ordering ear plugs to hand out; 3M is donating the ear plugs.

“If we can save a person’s hearing, the effort is worth it,” he said. “I’ve lost my hearing; I want to save anyone’s hearing that I can.”

Wright hopes people will use ear plugs when using a chainsaw, cutting the grass or doing other activities around loud noises.

The wrist bands are expected to arrive Sept. 22.

Wright is willing to speak at churches, civic group meetings or other gatherings to get out the word about the program, and to give out wrist bands.

He will also leave some bands at the North Jefferson News office in Gardendale for pickup.

The VFW is not charging for the wrist bands, but VFW Post 668 will accept donations to help keep the program going.

To learn more or to get wrist bands, call Wright at 205-527-9342.